Botswana secures access to China beef market
Lewanika Timothy | Tuesday June 17, 2025 15:01
The agreement comes as a lifeline for the country’s struggling meat industry and marks a rare win for the sector that has faced years of financial instability and declining output. The deal, confirmed by Minister of International Relations Dr. Phenyo Butale who is in China for the FOCAC, allows Botswana to begin exporting beef to the world’s largest consumer market, opening up critical economic opportunities amid falling herd numbers and a faltering export environment. “Access to China’s large market can significantly boost Botswana’s beef industry, enhance export revenues and invigorate local economies,” Butale said.
China’s rising demand for premium, hormone-free beef aligns with Botswana’s traditional grass-fed cattle production model. The agreement reduces the country’s reliance on the European Union (EU), which has long been its primary market, and helps mitigate the risks tied to volatile geopolitical and trade dynamics. The industry has faced serious structural challenges. Cattle numbers have dropped significantly over the years, from more than three million in the 1980s to under 1.5 million today. Farmers have increasingly turned to live cattle exports, frustrated by Botswana Meat Commission’s (BMC) reputation for late payments, aging infrastructure, and inconsistent slaughter schedules.
In 2024, an El Niño-driven drought forced mass cattle sales and briefly boosted beef exports, but sector experts warn the uptick was not sustainable. Government has introduced reforms, including a proposed law to establish an independent meat industry regulator and partially open up the export market. While these changes are moving slowly through Parliament, the China deal now puts added pressure on authorities to fast-track implementation and ensure the BMC can compete at a global level. China’s beef import protocols require verifiable animal traceability systems, disease-free zones, and internationally certified abattoirs.
While Botswana already uses RFID-based cattle tracking and has met EU standards, expansion and strict compliance will be necessary to gain and maintain access to the Chinese market. The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has also been piloting programmes to help smallholder farmers increase productivity, including input subsidies, veterinary support, and feed schemes. But questions remain about whether Botswana can rebuild national herd levels fast enough to sustain both EU and China demand.